Jimmy Hoffa’s final days explored on PBS

TONIGHT’S MUST-SEE: “History Detectives,” 9 p.m., PBS. At his peak, Jimmy Hoffa was a fierce force. In his four decades with the Teamsters, he saw the union increase tenfold. It had a million members and forged a national transportation contract. At his low point, he spent four years in prison, convicted of fraud and jury-tampering. He was still trying for a comeback when he disappeared on July 30, 1975. That remains one of the classic unsolved mysteries; using the FBI report, experts and survivors, this looks at Hoffa’s final days.

TONIGHT’S MUST-SEE II: “Face Off” season-opener, 9 p.m., Syfy. This competition for aspiring movie make-up people has all the reality-show clichés, but uses them well. It has a sharp host (actress McKenzie Westmore) and top experts, including her father (Michael Westmore), who has an Academy Award and three more nominations. Tonight — after a 13-hour rerun marathon ends with last season’s winner — 16 contestants arrive and learn they might not stay. Each must create a look representing life or death; then two will be ousted.

TONIGHT’S ALTERNATIVE: “Drunk History,” 10 p.m., Comedy Central. OK, many of us know the story of a lawyer, temporarily captive, writing a poem that was later set to a British drinking song; it would become the National Anthem. But how many know of Edgar Allan Poe’s bitter rival, who helped make him famous? Or Abraham Lincoln slipping into Washington for his inauguration; he almost got stuck in anti-Abe turf, because Baltimore’s noise rule banned trains at night. Each story is told here by someone who is drunk. Spiced with odd re-enactments, it’s a fun mix.

“Chasing Life,” 9 p.m., ABC Family. This remains an odd mish-mash. The core — skilled actors, in a story of a 24-year-old facing cancer– is solid; around that is clumsy soap opera and an absurd portrait of the newspaper world. Tonight, April’s romantic dreams wobble when Dominic gets a job offer.

“Tyrant,” 10 p.m., FX. Last week’s hour stopped in mid-crisis, on the anniversary of a late dictator’s genocide. Now his son — until recently, a Pasadena pediatrician — scrambles to prevent more bloodshed.